Bedtime for Batman - Perfect Picture Book Friday #PBBF

The sheer number of movies, books, comics, graphic novels, and action figurines indicate the affinity that so many kids, and adults, have for super heroes. I was equally excited about the book and depressed that I hadn't thought of it. This is a perfect book for kids of all ages who enjoy super heroes. but especially for the younger ones.

Bedtime for Batman

Author: Michael Dahl

Illustrator: Ethen Beavers

Publisher: Capstone Young Readers (2017)

Ages: 4 to 7

Fiction

Themes:

Bedtime rituals, superhero, adventures, and comics.

Synopsis:

When a dark night comes to the big city, one little super hero prepares for a great adventure . . . bedtime! He dons his pajama uniform, speeds upstairs, cleans up the nightly grime, and keeps watch from his towering bunk bed. Written by award-winning author Michael Dahl (Goodnight Baseball, Goodnight Football, and Goodnight Hockey) and illustrated by Ethen Beavers (DC Super Friends), this bedtime tale will have Batman fans, young and old, delighting in their nightly routines. Bedtime for Batman is the perfect way to say goodnight to your little Dark Knight.

Opening Lines;

Each day, the sun sets.

Each evening, a dark night rises.

Shadows deepen.

Stars cover the sky.

Suddenly . . .The hero gets a signal.

What I like about this book:

This is one of those books that once you've read it, you wonder how it hasn't existed before. The melding of a child's "adventurous" bedtime routine (complete with cape and costume pajamas), with scenes from Batman's comics, makes this book amazing.

The child's bedtime rituals parallel the adventures of Batman. As the child cleans up in the bathroom, Batman cleans up the sewer. As Batman locks up the villains, the child locks away his toys. When he cares for his goldfish, as Batman cares for people in Gotham city.

Then, modeling the caped crusader's guardian pose, the child prepares for a goodnight. The illustrations are bright and lively. Images abound in the child's world that correspond to the iconic images of Batman. Look closely at the clock, when "the hero gets a signal." (9:15 eerily resembles a bat). The cleanup spreads each contain a joker, a clown, and a penguin. Can you find the side-kick Robin in both of the above pictures? Even though there are many bedtime books on the market, for the youngest super hero fan (and the parents who get to read it over and over) this is a great addition.

Resources:

- the back of the book contains a bedtime checklist, with thumbnails from the story.

- the publisher offers a Bedtime for Batman Activity Kit (http://www.capstonepub.com/consumer/products/bedtime-for-batman/)

This post is part of a series by authors and KidLit bloggers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays. For more picture book suggestions see Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Books.